Loose leaf binder



Dec. 2, 1958 G. J. RUNDBLAD ET AL LOOSE LEAF BINDER 3 Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed May 5, 1950 J. RUNDBLAD ET AL 2,862,505

.Dec. 2, 1958 LOOSE LEAF BINDER Original Filed May 5. 1950 5 Sheets-$heer. 2

a w a g j QT 1 j Y 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 E g is III G. J. RUNDBLAD ET AL LOOSE LEAF BINDER Dec. 2, 1958 Original Filed May 5, 1950 MN QN um N8 m ommnmow M United States Patent() LOOSE LEAF BINDER 1950, Serial No. 160,328, dated December 13, 1955. July 5, 1955, Serial No.

Original application May 5,

now Patent No. 2,726,659, Divided and this application 519,745

2 Claims. (Cl. 129-13) This invention relates to aloose leaf binder and refers particularly to a ratchet lock binder having a latch holding the back sections against accidental separation.

This application is a division of our prior application filed May 5, 1950, under Serial No. 160,328, which issued as Patent No. 2,726,659 on December 13, 1955.

It is an object of this invention to provide a loose leaf binder having separable back sections with a ratchet lock at each end to hold the back sections in any compression position and an independent latch for holding the back sections against accidental separation when the ratchet locks are in open position. Other objects of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification, taken in conjunction with the. accompanying drawings, in which: i

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a loose leaf binder embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary detail perspective view showing the latch for holding the back sections against accidental separation; V a

Figure 3 is across sectional view, taken along the line 33 of Figure 1; 5 v Figure 4 is a fragmentary top elevation showing one end of each back section in separate-d position from the corresponding end of the other back section; a

Figure 5 is an end view of the two back sections separated from each other;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary top plan elevation showing the back sections in compression position; D

' Figure 7 is a cross sectional view, taken generally along the line 77 of Figure 6, but showing the back sections in open position; I

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 8-8 of Figure 6; and

Figure 9 isa fragmentary elevational view showing the latch for holding the back sections against accidental separation.

In the drawings the reference numerals 2 and 3 indicate a pair of back sections arranged in telescoping rela- "tionship. The back section 2 comprises a flat steel bottom plate 4 having one edge 5 extending upwardly at right angles. A filler sheet 6 of chip board or similar material is juxtaposed against the upper face of bottom plate 4 and the entire back section is bound with some suitable binding material 7' such as leather or imitation leather. .Back section 3 comprises a flat steel bottom plate 8 having one edge9 extending upwardly at right angles similar to the upstanding edge 'Son back section 2. A filler sheet 10, similar to filler sheet 6, is positioned on top of plate 8, and binding material 11, similar to binding material 7, is applied to backsection 3.

A metal hinge plate inside surfacepf the upstanding edge 5 and a strip 1319f 12 is positioned adjacent the 7 2,852,505 Patented Dec. 2, 1958 "ice fiber, Bakelite, hard rubber or similar material is positioned adjacent the outer surface of edge 5. The hinge plate 12 and outer strip 13 are both secured to edge 5 by means of a plurality of rivets 14. The lower edge of strip 13 preferably extends slightly below the bottom of back section 2 to protect the binding 7 from being scuffed when the binder is being used. A cover member 15 is pivotally secured to the upper edge of hinge plate 12. A plurality of sheet retaining posts 16 is secured to hinge plate 12 so as to project at right angles towards back section 3.

Back section 3 is provided with a hinge plate 18 and an outer strip 19, similar respectively to hinge plate 12 and strip 13. A cover member 20 is pivotally secured to the upper edge of hinge plate 18, and sheet retaining posts 17 are also secured to hinge plate 18 so as to extend in telescoping relationship with the complementary posts projecting from hinge plate 12. As shown, posts 16 are tubular and posts 17 are solid with a diameter slightly less them the inside diameter of posts 16. It is obvious that solid posts in staggered relationship may be used instead of the pairs of complementary posts 16 and 17.

A channel member 21 is rigidly secured to each edge of the bottom of back section 2 with the open side of each channel facing the other and positioned above bottom plate 4. The edges of the bottom of back section 3 fit Within the open sides of channels 21 and rest on ribs 22 which provide clearance between the top surface of back section 2 and the bottom surface of back section 3 to facilitate relative slida-ble movement between the back sections. A ratchet bar 23 is rigidly secured to the top edge of each channel 21. Each ratchet bar 23 is provided with teeth 24 projecting from its inner edge.

A metal strip 25 is rigidly secured to the top surface of each edge of back section 3. Each strip 25 has a raised section 26 spaced inwardly of and just below ratchet bar 23. An angularly shaped pawl 27 is pivotally mounted on section 26 by means of a stud 28 which extends through a slot 29. The slot 29 extends longitudinally of strip 25 to permit a slight longitudinal movement of pawl 27. The stud 28 has a reduced neck 30 which fits snugly in the aperture of pawl 27 and is peened over the top of the pawl to secure the stud rigidly to the pawl.

The pawl 27 is in the same horizontal plane as the ratchet bar 23 and its teeth 31 are shaped to interengage the ratchet teeth 24. One arm of pawl 27 is offset, as indicated at 32, to permit a portion 33 which extends substantially to the outer edge of back section 3 to overlie the ratchet bar 23 when the back sections 2 and 3 are interengaged. A lip 34 is bent upwardly at right angles from the end of portion 33 to facilitate manipulation of the pawl 27. The stud 28, to which the pawl is rigidly fixed, floats in slot 29 and serves as a pivot so that the pawl teeth 31 and ratchet teeth 24 may be interengaged or disengaged by finger pressures in opposite directions against the lip 34.

The end of pawl 27 adjacent the teeth 31 is provided with an angularly shaped slot 35, and a stud 36, rigidly secured to raised section 26 of strip 25, has a shank passing through slot 35. The head of stud 36 is larger in diameter than the width of the slot. When the pawl 27 is in the position shown in Fig. 6, the shank of stud 36 extends through one end 50 of slot 35. When the pawl is in thejposition of Fig. 4, the shank extends through the opposite end 51 of the slot 35. The ends 3 5-0 and 51 of slot are disposed at a slight angle relative to each other and the edge 53 of slot 35 is defined, between the curves of the ends of the slot, by two straight lines meeting to form an apex 52 intermediate the length of the slot. A coiled tension spring 37, positioned under raised section 26, has one end secured to stud 23 and its other cnd 'secured to a lip or ring 38 struck up from the bottom plate 8 of back section 3.

The spring 37 exerts a constant force against stud-"2 8 to pull it toward lip 38'. Stud 28' is rigidly secured "to pawl 27, but is movable in slot 2.9"which extends longitudinally of strip 25. The slight movement of the stud 28 moves the pawl" 27, but such movement is stopped by the engagement of the edge 53 of slot 35 against the shank of stud 36. The tension of spring 37 holds the pawl with the edge 53 of slot 35 pressing against the shank of stud 36. Accordingly, if the pawl is in the position of Fig. 6, the shank of stud 36 is held in the end 50 of slot 35 .by the action of spring 37, and the teeth 31 of the pawl remain in engagement with the teeth 24 of ratchet bar 23, thus holding back sections 2 and 3 against outward movement. In order for the pawl to' move from one extreme position to the other, it is necessary for the apex 52 to' move past the shank of stud 36. This is impossible unless the pawl is moved pivotally, against the action ofspring 37, a distance suificient to allow the apex 52 to clear the shank of stud 36.

T 0 release the pawl 27 from the ratchet bar 23, a slight finger pressure on lip 34 toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 6, is sufiicient to move the pawl pivotally about stud 28. The apex 52 moves past the shank of stud 36, against the action of spring 37, so that the end 51 of slot 35 engages the shank of stud 36, and the pawl 27 is out of engagement with the teeth 24 of ratchet bar 23, as shown in Fig. 4. When the finger pressure against lip 34 is released the spring 37 again pulls the pawl toward lip 38 so that the edge 53 of slot 35 is held against the shank of stud 36, thus preventing accidental movement of the pawl out of the Fig. 4 position. The spring 37 can not accidentally pull the pawl from one position to the other. The lip 34 must be pushed to force the apex 52 past the shank of stud 36 in order to move the pawl from either engaged or disengaged position to the other. Although the tension of spring 37 is strong enough to hold the pawl against accidental displacement from eitherposition, it is not strong enough to prevent manipulation of the pawl by finger pressure applied against lip 34.

The latch structure for preventing accidental separation of the back sections when the pawls are disengaged from the ratchets comprises a fiat strip 39 of metal extending transversely of back section 2 and rigidly secured thereto in any suitable manner. A stop member 40 is welded or otherwise secured to the strip 39 a short distance from the inner edge of the back section. If desired, the stop member 40 may be made integral with the strip 39 by embossing the strip to provide a raised projection similar to the stop-member.

A strip 41, extending transversely of back section 3 is secured at one end to back section 3 in position to be aligned with the strip 3? when the back sections 2 and 3 are engaged in their normal telescoping relationship. The strip 41 is offset upwardly, as indicated at 42, to give some resilience to the free end of the strip. The free end of strip 41 is bent downwardly, as indicated at 43, to overhang the inner edge of back section 3 and to engage the metal strip 39.

A slide member 44, 'extending'at right'angles to the strip 41, is secured to back section 3 adjacent the inner edge of the back section by means of a pair of studs 45.

A slot 46 engages each stud to hold the'slide member 44 under the raised portion of the strip 41 and to permit limited sliding movement of the member 44 at r ght angles to strip 41. The slide member 441s provided with two fingers 47 and 48 struck upwardly therefrom. The fingers are positioned on opposite sides of strip 41 and both are faced in the same direction. One end of the slide member 44 is bent upwardly to provide a lip 49 so that it can be slid in either direction by finger pressure applied against the lip.

When the slide member is moved forwardly, as viewed in Figure 6, finger 47 engages the upper surface of strip 41 and holds it down so that the end 43 engages the edge of stop member 40 and prevents complete separation of the back sections when they are pulled outwardly with the pawls disengaged from the ratchets. When the slide member is moved in the opposite direction, the finger 48 engages the lower surface of the strip 41 and raises the free end 43 above the 'planeof the stop member so that the back sections may be completely separated. There is sufiicient friction between the slide member 44 and the studs 45 to prevent the slide from moving accidentally from one position to the other. A positive force must be applied against lip 49 to move the slide in either direction.

From the foregoing it will be seen that we have devised a simple loose leaf binder in which a pair of telescoping back sections may be securely held against outward movement in any position by a ratchet and pawl engagement, may be moved freely without separation when the pawl is disengaged from the ratchet, and may be completely separated whenever separation is desired.

Although we have described a preferred embodiment of our invention in considerable detail, it will be understood'that the description is intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many details may be'rnodified or. changed without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, we do not desire to be restricted to the exact details described, except as limited by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a loose leaf binder, a back section having a channel extending upwardly and inwardly from one edge thereof, a second backsection having an edge slidable in said channel, a ratchet bar mounted on the top of said channel, a transverse strip secured to said second back section, said strip having a raised section coplanar with the top surface of said channel adjacent the inner edge of said channel, said raised section of said strip having a longitudinal slot therein, a pawl, a stud rigidly secured to said pawl extending through said slot to provide a slidable pivotal connection between said pawl and the raised section of said strip, said pawl having an angular slot spaced from said stud, a second stud rigidly secured to the raised section of said strip, said second stud projecting through said angular slot to limit the-pivotal movement of said pawl, said pawl engaging said ratchet bar in one extreme position and being disengaged from said ratchet bar in its other extreme position, and spring means holding said pawl against accidental displacement from either of said extreme positions.

2. In a loose leaf binder, a back section having a channel extending upwardly and inwardly from one edge thereof, a second back section having an edge slidable in said channel, a ratchet bar mounted on the top ofsaid channel, a transverse strip secured to said second back section, said strip having a raised section coplanar with the top surface of said channel adjacent the inner edge of said channel, said raised section of said strip having a longitudinal slot therein, a pawl, a stud rigidly secured to said pawl and extending through said longitudinal slot to provide a slidable pivotal connection between said pawl and the raised section of said strip, said pawl having an angular slot spaced from said stud, a second stud rigidly secured to the raised section of said transverse strip, said-second stud projecting through said angular slot to limit the pivotal movement of said pawl, said pawl engaging said ratchet bar in one extreme positiona nd being disengaged from said'ratchet bar in its other extreme position, a. projectionextendingiupwardly from said back section below the raised section of said strip, and a tension spring having one end secured to said first mentioned stud and its other end secured to said projection to urge said first mentioned stud toward one end of said longitudinal slot with one edge of said angular slot engaging said second stud to hold said pawl against accidental displacement from either extreme position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Mangin June 30, 1914 Shepherd et a1 Feb. 12, 1924 Schade Oct. 18, 1927 Allem Oct. 17, 1933 

